Spread of the Ecological approach across the world

Abstract

Chapter 8 reviews the progress of the Ecological approach across the world, in both developed and developing countries. In the United States, this progress can be seen in both dam removal and river restoration activities, including attempts to resuscitate the Colorado River Delta. In Europe, the progress of the Ecological approach has assumed a comprehensive character, as evidenced by the European Union’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) of 2000. The Ecological approach has made advances in developing countries too, many of which were practicing the pre-industrial variant of the Ecological approach until recently. The Narmada Bachao Andolon of India was a strong manifestation of the Ecological approach. Influenced, in part, by their pre-industrial ecological traditions, many developing countries have now taken such advanced steps as giving rivers and nature constitutional rights to exist and survive and not be disrupted by human interventions. These broader initiatives have provided further impetus for the Ecological approach to spread in developing countries.